Afghanistan Offline as Taliban Imposes Internet Shutdown

The Taliban government has suspended internet services across Afghanistan as of September 29, leaving the country offline with no official reason and no clear timeline for restoration.

According to CNN earlier this month, Taliban spokesman Haji Attaullah Zaid said leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had imposed a “complete ban” on cable internet in Balkh to prevent immorality, while promising a domestic alternative for essential needs.

Kabul airport was described as “nearly deserted,” with no signs of arriving or departing flights, according to residents quoted by the BBC. Businesses, banking systems, and online education, a vital resource for women and girls, have also been disrupted.

The UN mission in Kabul, in a statement said, “The cut in access has left Afghanistan almost completely cut off from the outside world, and risks inflicting significant harm on the Afghan people, including by threatening economic stability and exacerbating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.”

Residents expressed frustration as daily life ground to a halt. Najibullah, a 42-year-old shopkeeper in Kabul, told AFP: “All our business relies on mobiles. The deliveries are with mobiles. It’s like a holiday, everyone is at home. The market is totally frozen.”

Banks in Kabul remain open, but customers cannot access funds. A bank employee at a hotel branch told Sky News that their systems have been down since September 30 and Western Union services are also unavailable.